Cadherin adhesion molecules are believed to be important for synaptic plasticity. beta-Catenin, which links cadherins and the actin cytoskeleton, is a modulator of cadherin adhesion and regulates synaptic structure and function. Here we show that beta-catenin interacts with a novel GTPase-activating protein, named RICS, that acts on Cdc42 and Rac1. The… (More)

The Rho family of small GTPases, including RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42, are critical regulators of the actin cytoskeleton. In neuronal systems, Rho GTPase-activating proteins (RhoGAPs) and their substrates, Rho GTPases, have been implicated in regulating multiple processes in the morphological development of neurons, including axonal growth and guidance, dendritic… (More)

In our previous study, we identified RICS, a novel beta-catenin-interacting protein with the GAP activity toward Cdc42 and Rac1, and found that RICS plays an important role in the regulation of neural functions, including postsynaptic NMDA signaling and neurite outgrowth. Here we report the characterization of an N-terminal splicing variant of RICS, termed… (More)